February 27, 2025
THIMPHU – Bhutan’s glaciers and water sources are under threat from climate change, endangering 240 million people in the Himalayas and 1.6 billion downstream, Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay warned at the second Paro Forum 2025.
Bhutan possesses abundant water resources, with 700 glaciers feeding 567 glacial lakes, which, in turn, flow into numerous streams, five major and five minor river systems, and many springs. In total, the country has 7,399 water sources.
According to the Prime Minister, Bhutan’s water system generates 72 million cubic meters of water annually, with a per capita availability of 95,000 cubic meters—one of the highest in the world. This vast water reserve has the potential to produce over 30,000 megawatts of electricity. However, Bhutan has only been able to harness 3,500 megawatts so far.
In 2024, the global bottled water industry was valued at USD 350 billion, with projections indicating it could grow to USD 700 billion by 2033. The Prime Minister is optimistic that Bhutan can tap into this market, given its pristine and high-quality drinking water, along with the advantage of a 1.4 billion-strong market in India.
Additionally, Bhutan is set to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Government of India and the Government of Assam to jointly develop hydropower projects and export electricity to Assam while also supplying Bhutanese water for agricultural use in the region.
The Prime Minister highlighted that out of Bhutan’s 7,399 springs and water sources, nearly 69 have already dried up due to climate change, while 1,586—accounting for 25 percent of the country’s water sources—are in the process of drying up. “Out of 530 sub-watersheds, 149 have already dried up. This will have a profound impact on the 240 million people living in the Himalayas and the 1.6 billion people living downstream,” he warned.
“The effects of climate change are no longer vague or distant,” he added.
Bhutan has two types of glaciers: debris-covered and clean glaciers. According to Karma Dupchu, Director of the National Centre for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM), debris-covered glaciers in Bhutan are melting at an alarming rate of 30 to 35 meters per year, while clean glaciers are retreating at 12 to 15 meters per year. “The rate of glacial retreat is much faster in the eastern Himalayas compared to the western region,” he said. This data is based on studies of three benchmark glaciers: Gangjula, Thana, and Shodug. Bhutan currently has 17 potentially dangerous glacial lakes that could trigger glacial lake outburst floods.
Karma Dupchu also noted that due to challenges in maintenance, cost, and sustainability, Bhutan has only been able to install early warning systems in a few river basins, including those of the Punatshangchhu, Mangdechhu, Chamkharchhu, Amochhu, and Wangchhu.
Karma Dupchu noted that data on Bhutan’s glaciers remains incomplete. “The NCHM will create an inventory of them and is also planning to upgrade the existing early warning systems,” he said.
Currently, the NCHM has only a few glaciologists who can trek to the mountains to collect data on glaciers and glacial lakes. In addition to funding constraints, a shortage of human resources poses a major challenge.
Karma Dupchu explained that in Europe, researchers can monitor a glacier in a single day and return. “In Bhutan, it takes eight to ten days of walking. The high altitude poses a significant risk for helicopters, and we cannot send people from one mountain to another due to acclimatisation issues. Additionally, safety equipment is expensive.”
Strategy to combat climate change
Bhutan is the only country in the world that mandates at least 60 percent of its land remain covered by forests. Today, 70 percent of the country is under forest cover, with more than half designated as protected areas and wildlife sanctuaries.
Bhutan has pledged to remain carbon-neutral. At COP 29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, the country formed an alliance called G-Zero, comprising four carbon-neutral nations: Panama, Madagascar, Suriname, and Bhutan. This alliance aims to inspire other nations to adopt similar commitments.
The Prime Minister affirmed that Bhutan will not only uphold its existing environmental laws and regulations but will continue strengthening them through institutions such as the JSW School of Law and the Wisdom Centre for Justice.
Bhutan is also investing in climate-resilient transport systems, renewable energy—including hydropower, wind, and solar—and organic agriculture. In addition, the country is actively raising awareness among its citizens about climate change and sustainability.
Creating global awareness?
Bhutan’s mountainous terrain makes it highly vulnerable to extreme weather events such as floods, landslides, seasonal droughts, and GLOFs. Raising global awareness about these risks is crucial.
Climate experts and environmentalists stress that Bhutan must continue advocating for climate financing to support resilience, mitigation, and adaptation efforts. They also raise a critical question: Who will compensate Bhutan for its glacial loss, despite the country maintaining a carbon-neutral status?
Experts suggest that Bhutan should invest more in information and communication technology and filmmaking to attract international attention to its climate challenges. A recent example is Bhutanese filmmaker Arun Bhattarai’s documentary Mountain Man, which has made it to the Oscars 2025—the first Bhutanese documentary to achieve this milestone.
Arun Bhattarai noted that the film was well received by international audiences and emphasised the need for Bhutan to invest more in such projects to amplify its voice on the global stage.
Global scenario
According to the World Meteorological Organisation, between January and September 2024, the global mean surface air temperature was 1.54°C—0.13°C above the pre-industrial average (1960s). This surpasses the globally agreed limit of 1.5°C, highlighting the urgency of climate action.
At COP29 in Azerbaijan, world leaders agreed to triple climate finance for developing countries, increasing the previous goal of USD 100 billion annually to USD 300 billion by 2035.
All stakeholders committed to scaling up climate finance from both public and private sources, with a target of USD 1.3 trillion per year by 2035.